Ski binding



July 27, 1965 L. G. MARCUS v3,197,222

ATTORNEY.

July 27 1955 L. G. MARCUS 3,197,222

SKI BINDING Filjed Aug. 16, 1963 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 LOU/S GERALD MARCUS,

INVENTOR ATTORNEY.

United States Patent 3,197,222 SKI BINDING Louis Gerald Marcus, George Aggott Road, Needham, Mass. Filed Ang. 16, 1963, Ser. No. 302,598 2 Claims. (Cl. 2550-1135) This invention relates to a ski binding. In particular, it relates to a ski binding which utilizes a cable in the heel groove of a ski boot.

Ski bindings commonly in use today comprise a cable, a toe clamp, fairleads located on each side forward of the heel and below the boot, and a tensioning and locking clamp located forward of the toe clamp. The toe clamp, the fairleads and the tensioning clamp are all attached to the ski. The cable comprises a iiexible closed loop running between the tensioning clamp and the heel groove of the ski boot. Locking of the tensioning clamp pulls the cable against the heel groove, pushing the boot toe tightly into the toe clamp.

The class of ski bindings described above present one or more important problems. For example, it is often difficult to guide the rear cable into the ski boot without assistance. Further, it is often difficult to remove the cable from the groove without assistance. event of a fall the tensioning clamp and the toe clamp which normally include safety releases, often fail to function properly because the cable remains in the heel groove.

Accordingly, it is one object of this invention to provide an improved ski binding of the cable type of increased safety, and which furnishes greater convenience in the insertion or removing of a ski boot from the ski.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the specification and claims which follow and from the appended drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side view of the device with the boot in place.

FIGURE 2 is a plan View of the device with the boot removed.

FIGURE 3 is an exploded view of the heel portion of the device.

FiGURE 4 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG- URE 1 with partial cut-away.

The invention comprises broadly a ski binding having a toe clamp, a tensioning and locking clamp forward of the toe clamp, cable guides located on each side forward of the heel and below the boot, a exible cable in the form of a loop runing from the tensioning clamp around the heel groove of the ski boot, a relatively rigid supporting member extending above the heel groove from behind the heel of the boot, and resilient means supported by said member and connected to the rear of said cable. ln one preferred form the support member of the invention is shaped in the manner of a curved open trough supporting and attached to a spring connected to the cable.

Referring now to the embodiment shown in the drawings, there is illustrated therein a portion of a ski 11 having attached to it a front plate 12 with vertical anges supporting the front latch assembly 13 on pin 15. The assembly 13 comprises a yoke 14 pivotable on the pin 15 and pivotally supporting latch handle 16 on pivot pin 17. In open position the latch handle 16 has a portion extending rearward from pivot 17 to the plate 12 and supporting a pin 13 which pivotally supports a hook member 19 engageable with the cable assembly 20. Pulling back on the latch handle causes the hook member 19 to pull the cable assembly forward and permit the end of the latch handle 16 to be locked by engaging the hook 24 on the bolt 23 supported by a cross member 22 spanning the cable assembly 20.

Also, in theV CCY The cable assembly 20 comprises a front curved U- shaped stiff bar 21y whose rear portion is spanned by the cross member 22. To each en'd of the curved bar 214 is attached one end of the long loop of a flexible steel cable 25. The curved bar 21 has springs 26 and 27 on each side forward of the cross piece 22. The cable 25 runs back on either side of the ski boot 33 around the heel notch 32 of the boot and is supported on each side of the ski by hooks 28, 29, 30, and 31 which are spaced just below the top surface of the ski 11.

The boot engaging portion of the device comprises a boot plate 41 attached to the ski 11 and a heel plate 46 similarly attached to the ski. Forward of the boot plate 41 is a toe retaining assembly 42 comprising a vertical ivoting rod 43 on which a toe receiving member 44 can swing laterally. A Vertical spring member 45 is pivoted so as to maintain toe receiving member 44 in proper position when the toe 34 of the boot 33 is pressed against the receiving portion of the toe receiving member 44.

The toe receiving member 44 is so constructed as to include a transverse safety release. Member 44 comprises a toe-engaging section 44a which extends over the body portion 44h. Section'44a is pivotable on pin 44) extending through the body portion 44h. However, section 44a is normally held firmly attached to the body 44h by virtue of engagement of a steel ball 44d with recess 44g; ball 44dv being supported by a spring 44C through body portion 44b backed by an adjustable, threadable pin 44e.

The rear shoe plate 46 has a rearward extension 46a on which is Vslideably mounted a Vsupporting plate 47 held in a selected position by screw 54. Two anges 52 and 53 on plate 47 support a pin 51 on ywhich is adjustably mounted an upwardly-directed curved trough-like support 4S. The curved support 48 has a number of orifices 43a, b and c to which a spring 49 may be connected by its rear hook 49b. The front hook 49a of this ring 49 is hooked onto a loop 50 attached to a rubber sleeve 35 surrounding the iiexible cable 25 at the heel notch 32 of the boot.

In open position, as illustrated in FIGURE 2, the front latch handle 16 is in forward upright position with substantially no tension on the cable assembly 20. The toe receiving member 24 is shown in cross-wise position but is generally left in longitudinal position. The heel portion of the cable 25, including the rubber sleeve 35, is maintained in connection with the spring 49 supported by the curved trough member 48.

Insertion of the boot into the ski binding is simple. It is only necessary for the user to turn the toe receiving member 44 into toe receiving position (unless it has been left in that position), insert the boot so that the toe 34 engages member 44 and press down. At this point the rear or heel portion (rubber sleeve 35) of the flexible cable 25 is back of the boot and above the level of the notch 32. However, by doing the final step, namely moving the latch 16 rearward so as to engage the hook 24, the cable 25 is pulled forward and down and thus places the heel portion of the cable securely in the notch 32. No manipulation of the cable is necessary, as is required in prior art ski bindings.

The ski binding described above provides several important safety factors for the user. Thus, if the skier falls there are several possibilities of extra tension being applied in various directions. This tension must provide release of the boot from the ski binding in order to prevent fracture of the limbs of the skier. Thus, if the cable assembly is pulled longitudinally and upward by the tensions created by the fall, the front latch will disengage. Likewise, a sideward thrust will cause the toe engaging section 44a to turn to the side. In either case the results will beV the freeing of the boot from the ski. However, these safety releases as incorporated in the prior art are frequently not operative because of the tendency of the cable to cling to the heel notch. With the rigidly supported spring 49 of this invention there is no possibility of the clinging action of the rear portion of the cable 25 interfering with either of the safety re leases.

Removal of the boot from the ski binding of this invention is easily accomplished by simply lifting and disengaging the latch handle 16 and stepping out of the ski.V By virtue of the pull of rear spring 49 on the rear of cable 2S, releasing the latch 16 causes the rear portion of the cable to be pulled rearward and upward and thus free from the heel notch. Thus, it is not necessary, as in prior art devices, for the user to manipulate the cable in order to free it from the heel notch.

In the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, the rear spring 49 is supported by a curved rigid trough-like support which extends up from the ski to a point to the rear and above the normal position of the heel notch. In place of the trough, other curved rigid supports can be utilized. Thus, for example, a curved rod can be used having a exible end and having the spring surround the rod. It is also possible but less preferable to use a dat or circular spring. Another variation is to use in place of the trough and spring arrangement a vertical member connected to the cable and having its bottom portion resiliently slideable on the ski.

While a preferred embodiment of this invention has been described in detail it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the particular construction set forth since various changes in the form, proportion and arrangement of parts and the details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or the scope of the invention, or destroying any of the advantl tages contained, heretofore described and defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a ski binding comprising a toe clamp mounted on the ski, a tensioning and locking clamp mounted on the ski forward of the toe clamp, a flexible cable attached to the locking clamp and adapted to engage the heel groove of a ski boot and cable guide means attached to the sides of the ski; resilient means connected to the heel portion of the cable, and supporting means attached to the ski rearward of the boot, extending to a location readward and above the level of the heel groove and connected to said resilient means.

2. In a slti binding comprising a toe clamp mounted on the ski, a tensioning and locking clamp mounted on the ski forward of the toe clamp, a flexible cable attached to the locking clamp and adapted to engage the heel groove of a ski boot, and cable guide means attached to the sides of a ski boot; a forwardly curved rigid troughlike support extending up fromthe ski behind the boot to a location rearward and above the level of the heel groove, and resilient means connected to the heel-end portion of said cable, at least partially resting on said support and connected to said support.

References Cited bythe Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS l 2,836,428 5/58 Marker 280-l1.35 2,944,828 7/60 Nashe 280--11.35

FOREIGN PATENTS 538,351 1/5l Italy. 1,037,339 7/58 Germany.

A. HARRY LEVY, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A SKI BINDING COMPRISING A TOE CLAMP MOUNTED ON THE SKI, A TENSIONING AND LOCKING CLAMP MOUNTED ON THE SKI FORWARD OF THE TOE CLAMP, A FLEXIBLE CABLE ATTACHED TO THE LOCKING CLAMP AND ADAPTED TO ENGAGE THE HEEL GROOVE OF A SKI BOOT AND CABLE GUIDE MEANS ATTACHED TO THE SIDES OF THE SKI; RESILIENT MEANS CONNECTED TO THE HEEL PORTION OF THE CABLE, AND SUPPORTING MEANS ATTACHED TO THESKI REARWARD OF THE BOOT, EXTENDING TO A LOCATION REARWARD AND ABOVE THE LEVEL OF THE HEEL GROOVE AND CONNECTED TO SAID RESILIENT MEANS. 